Fluid control valve



E. W. -IDAVIS FLUID 4(.)ONTROL VALVE Filed Aug. 2s, 1955 '5 sneetsi- Sheet 2 Aug. 30, 1938.

E. w. DAVIS 'FLUID CONTROL VALVE FiledAg. 26I 1933 s sheets-sheet s Patented Aug. 30, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE 2,128,636 FLUID coN'rnoi. VALVE ErnestW. Davis, 0ak- Park, Ill.,\ assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Stewart-Warner Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Virglnia Application August' 26.1933, serial No. 686.928

7 Claims.

, tr'olled element may be located relatively remote from the compressor and in .which but a single air conducting conduit between the compressor and the manual control element is required.

A further object is lto provide an improved lubricant compressor control means which will be eiiicient in operation and which may be economically manufactured.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig-'1 is a side elevation of the lubricant'compressor with its valve controlled discharge conduit for supplying lubricant to bearings to be lubricated;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on a broken horizontal plane passing through the center line of the air motor and immediately above the pump cylinder structure; v

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the lubricant compressor, the air operated lubricant pressure relief mechanism being shown in section; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectionalview of the upper end o'f thelubricant reservoir and covertherefor; v

Fig.- 5 is a detailed sectional view showing the cover hinge; 'n

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 oiFig.7`; I Fig. 7 is a'vertical sectional view taken on the line I-'l of Fig. 2; Y I

Fig. 81s a centralvertical lsectional view of the air bleed device; and

Fig. 9 is a central sectional valve. The lubricant compressor shown herein as an appropriate apparatus with which the present invention may be used -isoi the pneumatlcally operated typeusable for the high pressure lu' brication of machinery, particularly automobiles. It comprises generally a hopper type reservoir I0, a base I2, and a body casting I4. Thenreservoir I0 is closed by a cover t6 (Fig. 4). pivoted, upon a-hinge pin I8 whichis secured toa hinge bracket 20, as shown in Fig. 5, the hinge bracketl view or the control 20 being secured to the reservoir III by screws 22 or any other suitable means.l The cover secured in closed position by turning down the wing nut 24 threaded on a pivoted screw 26, the

nut engaging a slotted angle piece 28 welded to the cover I6. A bracket 30 welded to the reserj'voir I0, and a rivet 32 carried by the bracket,

form a pivotal support for the screw 26.

Lubricant discharged from the pump is conveyed through a ilexible hose 34 whichV at its outer end is connected to the body 36 of a control valve. A whip end lubricant discharge hose 38 is connected to the body 36 of the control valve, and at its extremity carries a coupler 40 for making quick detachable connections with any one of a plurality of lubricant receiving iittings 42 connected to bearingsv 44 to be lubricated. IAn air control hose 46 is preferably clipped to or held adjacent the hose 34 by means' of a sheath 48.

' As shown in Fig. 7, the reservoir I0 is welded to the casting I4, and the latter is secured to the base I2 by means of a capscrew 50, the upper surface of the base I2 being dished so that the cap .screw may be drawn tightly against the base casting.

Formed integrally with the base casting VI4 is an air motor body 52 having a cylindrical bore Y64 in which thel piston 56 is reciprocable. The

end of the cylinder. 54 is closed by a head. 58

`threaded into the cylinder andlocked in posivtin by a tapered pin 60. (Fig. '1) which projectsv V through one ofv a plurality -of notches 62 formed in theiiangeof the head 58. A gasket 64 is interposed between the ange of the cylinder head and the end of the cylinder body. A plunger rod 66 is loosely connected to the piston 56 by an' inwardiy ilanged sleeve 68, ahead 'III formed on the end of the plunger rod 66 thus 'being retained,

and limited lost motion between the plunger rod Bland piston permitted The air motor is generally `similar to that shown and describedin Davis Patents Nos. 1,830,-

643, and 2,051,290. It will suice here to state that when air under pressure is supplied to the cylinder 64 through its inlet opening 'I2,r the piston 56 will be continuously reciprocated.

`The piston of the air motor is moved substan tially solely -by its kinetic energy during that portion of its stroke which is eiective in. moving the plunger through its pressure discharge stroke. The piston will thus force the plunger to eject vthe iubricantby hammer-likeblows, making it 16 is counterbored to form a seat 18 for a spring pressed ball check valve 80, and has an inlet port 82. The cylinder body 16 is held within the body I4 by a bushingv 84 threaded in the body and engaging a ilange 86 formed on the cylinder 16. A lock nut 88 and washer 90 prevent accidental loosening of the bushing 84, and the cylinder body 16 is held against rotation by a set screw 92 threaded in the body and having its end engaging in a notch cut in the ange 86. A T 94 is threaded in the end of the cylinder body 16 and forms a means for attaching the discharge hose 34 to the cylinder outlet. An agitator rod 96 is secured to the plunger rod 68 and is guided for longitudinal movement in a bracket 98 which is rigidly secured to a boss |00 projecting upwardly from the bottom of the casting i4 (as shown in Fig. 6), by means of a cap screw |02. The agitator rod 96 thus reciprocates with the plunger and plunger rod in a path extending over the inlet opening 92, thereby breaking up any large air bubbles which may be present in the grease.

This agitator mechanism is claimed in my Patent Air under pressure is supplied to the inlet 12 of the air motor through a novel form of control mechanism, best shown in Figs. '7 and 8, and comprising a body |04. An air inlet fitting |06 is threaded in the body |04 and is adapted to be coupled with a coupler |08 secured at the end of an air supply hose I0 (Fig. l). The body |04 has a relatively small bore |2 and a counterbore ||4 therein. Within the bores ||2 and ||4 is located a diilerential piston assembly com-- prising a guide ||6, a large cup leather piston H8, and a smaller cup leather piston |20, these cup leather pistons being suitably secured to the guide member H6.

Air from the source of supply connected to fthe fitting los is conducted to the upper end of the counterbore |4 through a. highly restricted passageway formed by a sleeve '|22 pressed into a drilled hole |24, and a plug |26. -The sleeve |22 is internally threaded throughout its length, and the plug |26 has an external thread extending the full length thereof. The thread on the plug 26 is mutilated by having the apex portion thereof removed so that a helical passageway, substantially triangular in cross section, is formed between the cooperating threads of the plug and the sleeve. Thus air is permitted slowly to bleed from' the source between the plug and sleeve and through passageway |28 to the upper end of the cylindrical bore ||4.

'Ihe body |04 has a sidewardly extending threaded nipple portion |30 threaded in the inlet opening 12 of the cylinder body 52 of the air motor, there being a passageway |32 extending through the portion |80 into the body |04. The air supplied through the inlet tting |06 may ow into the cylindrical bore ||2 through a port |34 butI is prevented from flowing from t the passageway |32 by a hemlspheric l valve |36. The latter is connected to the differential piston 'member I6 by a tension spring |38, the ends of which may be soldered or otherwise suitably secured tothe diierential piston member ||6 and the valve |36 respectively. p

The lower end of the bore 24 is closed by a. plug |40 and the upper end of thecylindrical bore ||4 is closed by a plug |42. A conduit |44 has one end suitably connected to the upper end of the cylindrical bore ||4, the other end being connected to an elbowpassageway |46 formed s bore into in the body casting I4. The hose 46 is likewise connected to the passageway |46.

Means are provided to relieve the lubricant pressure in the discharge conduit 34 whenever thecompressor is not in operation, thereby to relieve the hose of unnecessary strain, to facilitate disconnecting the coupler 40 from the fitting to which it may have been attached, and to eliminate the necessity of providing a valve in the grease discharge conduit.

This means for relieving the lubricant pressure in the discharge hose comprises a valve tting |48 (Fig. 3) threaded in the body casting |4. The tting |48 is connected to the T 94 by a suitable conduit |50. A Valve |52 is cooperable with a diminutive valve seat |54 formed in the tting |48, and is biased to move from the seat by'a compression coil spring |56. The valve |52 may be formed integrally with a stem |58 guided in a bore |60 and at its upper end carries a cup leather piston |62 which is reciprocable in a cylinder |64. The upper end of the cylinder is closed by a screw plug |66, the interior of this cylinder being in communication with the cylindrical bore 54 of the air motor through a passageway |68. 'Ihe lubricant which passes the valve |52 flows through a cavity |10 formed in the body casting I4 and which is in communication with the interior of the reservoir tank The manually operated control valve has a pair of cored passageways |12 and |14 formed in the body 36, the passageway |12 forming a direct path of communication between the hose 34 and the whip end hose 38.

An air relief valve tting |16 is threaded into the body 36, projecting into the passageway |14. The fitting |16 is drilled and bored to form a. shoulder |18 upon which a gasket |80 is seated. A valve |82 is normally pressed against .the seat by a compression coil spring |84. A valve operating plunger |86, polygonal in cross section, is guided within the iitting |16 and is adapted to be moved inwardly to raise the valve |82 from its seat by a trigger |88 which is pivotally secured to the body |36 by a shouldered screw |90. Clockwise (Fig. 9) pivotal movement of the trigger |88 is limited by engagement of the web portion |82 of the trigger with the boss |94 on the valve body.

In the use of the lubricant compressor control means of my invention, the a ir supply hose ||0 is coupled to the compressor, whereupon the air under pressure will flow through the tting |34 into the bores |24 and ||2. the area of the piston |20 is much greater than that ofthe valve |36, the differential piston assembly ||6 will be moved upwardly, tensioning the spring |38 until the pull exerted upon the valve |36 is suilicient to unseat it. Thereupon air under pressure will iiow through the. passageway |32 to the inlet port 12 of the air motor, causing the latter to begin to operate. In ashort time, however, air Viiowing through the highly restricted passageway formed between the sleeve |22 and plug |26 will raise the pressure in the cylindrical bore 4, conduit |44, hose 46 and passageway |14 sufficiently to cause the differential piston assembly 'H6 to move downwardly. As this assembly.moves downwardly the valve |36 will be seated, cutting off the supply of air to the air motor.

To cause lubricant to be forced to the bearing, the trigger' 88 is 'operated to open the valve |82. Thereupon the air pressure within the pas- Due to the fact that valve |36. After suflicient lubricant has been supplied to a bearing, the trigger |86 is released,

, whereupon the valve |82 will be returned to its seat by a spring |84 and after a short interval the pressure within the cylindrical bore ||4 will be built up by the restricted flow of air through the passageway between the plug |26 and sleeve |22, Aagain causing the diierential piston assembly to move downwardly and close the valve |36.

The airflow through the restricted passage-'- way may be ofsuch size as to cause the pressure to be built up Within the cylindrical bore ||4 in a few seconds after the `control valve |82 is closed. By partially unscrewing the plug |26 from the sleeve |22 the quantity of fair flowing through the helical passageway may be increased if it is desired to have the air motor respond more rapidly to operation of the control valve. However, the resistance vto flow of air through the helical passageway should be suiliciently great that an excessive volume of air is not lost through this passageway during the operation of the lubricant compressor.

The connection between the valve |36 and the v differential piston assembly ||6 formed by` the spring |38 causes the valve |36 to open with a rapid snap action. This is due to the fact that as the diierential piston assembly ||6 moves up'- wardly the spring |38 is stretched until sufficient force is exerted to unseat the valve |36. As soon as this valve moves the slightest distance away from its seat, the air pressure upon this upper surface is slightly decreased by the ow of air and the pressure on its lower surface slightly increased, thereby-making it possible for the spring |38 to v,contract and rapidly raise the valve |36 from its seat. Whenever the valve |36 is closed, the air pressure within the air'motor cyl-.

inder 54 and hence in the piston cylinder |64 will drop rapidly substantially to atmospheric pressure, and the. spring |56 will raisethe valve |52 from itsseat, thereby relieving the pressurel in the lubricant discharge hose 34.

As previously pointed out, this relief of pressure in the lubricant discharge hose makes it unnecessary to provide a lubricant flow controlling valve in the discharge hose, and with the type of couplers 40 ordinarily used, makes it easy to disconnect this coupler from the lubricant receiving fitting. This means for relieving the pressure in the lubricant discharge conduit also has the advantage over the lubricant shut-oil! valve commonly provided in the lubricant discharge hose, because when the latter is'used the lubricant pressure in the whip end portion 38 o1 the lubricant discharge hose is not relieved and after the coupler 40 has been disconnected from the lubricant receiving fitting the contraction of the hose and the expansion of air mixed with the grease will frequently cause a quantity of lubricant to exude from the coupler.

t While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be readily understood by those skilled inthe art that variations may be made in the construction disclosed without departing from the basic features of my invention: I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise construction disclosed but wish to include within; the scope of my inventionall such modifications and variations which. will readily suggest themselves.

What I claim as new and desire to secure b -United States Letters Patent; is: p v

1. A control mechanism for a compressed air operated'motor comprising, a valve to control the ow of air from a source of air under pressure to the motor, air pressure operated means to hold said valve closed, a yielding operating connection between said valve and said piston, means including a highly restrictive passageway for supplying air under pressure to said means, and a valve manually operable -to vent said means to the atmosphere thereby relieving the air pressure on said air pressure operated means and permitting said rst named valve to open.

2'. In a mechanism Afor controlling a pneumati cally operated motor, the combination of a passageway for conducting air from a source of air under pressure to an air operated motor, a valve pressure, a pair of cylinders of different diameter adjacent -said valve, a pair of connected pistons one in each of said cylinders, a spring connecting i said pistons with said valve, means for supplying air under pressure from said source directly tocated at a distance from said cylinders for relieving the pressure in the larger of said cylinders.

3. In a mechanism for controlling the flow of air under pressure to a-passageway, the combiin said passageway normally held closed by air nation of a valve operable to control the flow of air through said passageway, a piston for oper` ating said valve, a'resilient operative connection between said piston and said valve, a cylinder for said piston, a restricted passageway for conducting air under pressure to said cylinder, and means located remotely from said cylinder fo'r venting said cylinder to the atmosphere.

4. A control mechanism for a fluid pressure motor comprising a valve to control the flow of fluid from a source of fluid under pressure to the motor, snap action means for controlling said valve, means exposed to said uid under pressure foractuating said snap action means, control means for accumulating fluid under pressure, manual means for relieving the pressure of the fluid accumulated in said control means, fluid How regulating means for supplying fluid under pressure to said accumulating means, and means operated' by the uid pressure in said accumu lease pressure in said chamber, a uid conduit,`

means forming a relatively narrow passage which aiords communication between said fluid conduit and the chamber, said chamber including a cylinder and a plunger sealingly engaging the cylinder and adapted to be actuated in one direction by the fluid admitted to the chamber through said passage, a valve controlling the fluid in theI conduit, and a spring operatively connect# ing the plunger and said latter valve, whereby upon release of pressure in the pressure chamber the recoil of the spring will break the adhesion between the plunger and the cylinder.

6. lIn a valve apparatus, means adapted to contain fluid under pressure, said means having a fluid Vdischarge v'alve including a discharge port and a plug for closing the port, the plug and port being so arrangedv that pressure in the first-v named means may move the plug to open the port, means forming a pressure chamber and means adapted and arranged to quickly release pressure therein, the pressure-chamber-forming means including a cylinder and a plunger slidable therein and operatively connected to the valve plug to close the valve when the plunger moves in one direction in its cylinder. means to supply fluid under pressure to the chamber, at a relatively slow rate, said latter means acting in cooperation with theplunger with greater effective force tending to close the valve than is exerted by said fluid under pressure in the rstnamed means tending to open the valve, so that the valve is normally maintained closed, the

operating connection between the plunger and valve comprising resilient energy-storing means, whereby, upon quick release of the pressure in the chamber the released energy will cause the plunger to move in the opposite direction in its aiaaeae cylinderY irrespective of static friction between the coacti'ng plunger and cylinder surfaces tending to cause the plunger to resist movement.

'7. In ajvalve apparatus, comprising a valve adapted and arranged to close a fluid exit for fluid underpressure, said valve including a part movableto uid releasing position, a pressure having greater fluid discharge capacity than said passage. y ERNEST W. DAVIS. 

